Lyme Regis toilet charge considered

LYME Regis could have paid-for public toilets, if West Dorset District Council's proposals are approved.

The council is considering having an attended service at three public toilets at Broad Street, Monmouth Beach and next to the Cobb Arms, with a 20p charge.

The high number of visitors to the town is said to put a strain on the services, which are cleaned four times a day, and that expected standards of cleanliness are not being met.

But WDDC has written to the town council, local businesses and community groups to hear their views, and is inviting residents to have their say.

WDDC leader Robert Gould said: "We are committed to providing clean and safe public toilets and to improve standards without an additional cost to the tax payer. We would need to introduce a charge for people to use the toilets.

"Other councils who have introduced a 20p charge to pay for an attendant service have told us that the increased levels of cleanliness and the reduction in vandalism has encouraged more visitors to return to the area and reduced the number of complaints."

Disabled people would not be charged for using the toilets and the attendants would have discretion to let people through, if there was an emergency.

People can tell the council what they think of the proposal by completing a survey, available from Lyme Regis Town Council offices and the local Tourist Information Centre.

Residents and visitors can also vote using an interactive poster, which will be in each of the three toilets over alternate weeks from August 5.

The deadline for people to share their views is Tuesday, August 25. Comments will be included with a report which will go before the council's Executive Committee in September.

If approved, it is hoped to be in place by next summer.

For more information, visit www.dorsetforyou.com/publictoilets/west